A Working Collection

Additional Information

From 1949 to 1972 Marjorie Dunlop was the Chief Librarian at the Regina Public Library. When she oversaw the construction of the new Central Library building, she insisted that specialized spaces be reserved for an art gallery and a film theatre and that art rental be a public service of the Library. Through this vision, Dunlop Art Gallery has collected contemporary art by Saskatchewan artists for over sixty years. Miss Dunlop understood art's value for promoting visual literacy, contributing to the library's many services as well and building and protecting the history of Saskatchewan art. The gallery was named after Miss. Dunlop the year she retired. In a recent essay exploring the trend of post-object philosophies in museums and libraries-commonly reflected in a move towards more electronic access to information and less books-Juris Dilevko and Lisa Gottlieb argue for a collaboration between museums and libraries to develop innovative ways to share and utilize their collections: .we suggest that libraries assume a role traditionally associated with museums by incorporating objects-both rare and popular- in the library's collection. The intent would be two-fold: (1) to organize and display the interrelationship between books and objects in the formation of knowledge and (2) to illuminate how this knowledge defines not only the library but also its user community. They suggest that instead of competing with and attempting to keep up with the explosion of electronic information, that libraries shift their thinking about their role in the community to a more social and community driven service. This thinking reflects directly the visions of Dana and Dunlop in expanding the role of the library to include other forms of knowledge and learning. Dunlop Art Gallery has consistently developed programmes that relate to the interests of the community and utilize the library's book collection to enhance the visitor's experience and understanding of the exhibition. As well, the Dunlop programmes have often highlighted popular materials and interests, such as Tilt! an exhibition of pinball machines and Aerial Farm Photography which reflect the interests of the library's patrons. In its collecting practices, the Dunlop has focused on Saskatchewan artist practices, thus building a useful and unique collection that speaks to the communities utilizing the library. The permanent collection reflects the interests, practices and history of this region. In this exhibition, works from the collection have been chosen that have worked especially hard through exhibitions and their value to researchers, curators and critics. As well, this exhibition includes works that are unique to the collection (Edward Poitras' items in the collection are the screens used to make the text on the wall, which is the actual art) and those that have not had an opportunity to be utilized (such as the work by the Sioux Handicraft Cooperative). The works in the permanent collection represent a sixty-year commitment to the art of Saskatchewan, the preservation of its history and the use of art as a tool of knowledge and learning. The art rental and permanent collections have worked hard for the patrons of the library (through rentals and exhibitions) and the wider art community (through touring exhibitions, catalogues and as research tools). This exhibition is a tribute to the hard work this collection represents, the innovative thinking of Marjorie Dunlop, and the supportive artistic community that helped build this collection.

A Working Collection (Installation View), 2004.